You are sitting in Butler/your bedroom/the second floor lounge/Central Park/Hungarian/an undisclosed location. You are dOin wErq. And then, perhaps, you are "doing work". Finally, you begin to do work. You pick up one class's reading assignment. You highlight. You digest. You draw doodles in the margins. You complete paragraph after paragraph aft--wait, what? Does that say what you really think that says? You reread that last sentence or two. Yes, it does indeed say what you thought it did. You laugh/cry/swoon/sing/philosophize/ponder/change your life goals. You look around you, eagerly--this little nugget of knowledge must be shared! But, alas!--no one is around you. You tell yourself that you will remember to share this with your roommate/BFF/Mom/Dad/significant other/CL but, as one so often does in this world of further readings, Youtube videos of singing babies, and Netflix, you forget. The priceless nugget disappears once more into literary anonymity.

But I say, "no more"! "Taken Out of Context" is a space in which we share those rare gems of writing that we find within the pages of assigned readings--be they hilarious, strange, beautiful, inspiring or in any other way memorable and worth sharing. Place your contenders in the comments and I will continue to add your quotations to the post. At the end of the week, one lady's entrant will be chosen for the best nugget of the week. Each week, a new post, some new quotes, and a new winning nugget.Let the reading & sharing begin!-----------------------------------------

1. "Scurvy knave! I am none of his flirt-gills; I am none of his skains-mates."

One of the best things about Columbia/Barnard is the sheer abundance of campus events that occur every week. One of my biggest regrets is not having fully taken advantage of all the marvelous things that occur ON THE DAILY at this university. Being the loving & protective CL I am, I want to save you this mistake. ERGO, every Sunday night I will post the dates, times, & locations of that week's upcoming events that I think sound KEWL, INTERESTIN, PROVOCATIVE, HIP & HAPPENIN' in a series I will call (…for now) "SEE THIS; HEAR THIS; BE HERE". I'll also post links to all the events (when possible) so you can read more about them and get tickets (when necessary). In the comments, lemme know which events strike a cord with you--if enough people show interest, we can mayhaps all attend together…because you're cool, other Tele ladies are cool, and cool ladies should go to cool things together.

ALSO, if there is any event that I have missed that you want to publicize (be it a lecture, a gallery, a club gathering or what have you) feel free to post it in the comments as well and I can put it up on the blog for all to see.

"Ever thought about moving to California? Love Jamba Juice, In-N-Out, CPK, and amazing weather? Interested in finding out about media, entertainment, PR, or tech internships (just to name a few) on the West Coast?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, come meet the board of West Coast Connection! We’ll speak briefly about who we are, the types of events we hold, and opportunities to get involved. Snacks will be provided! Yes, there will be FREE FOOD!!!"

Welcome to Barnard College!!!!!!!! (If I could add a thousand more exclamation points, I would--unfortunately, I think e-mail has certain limitations.) My name is Colette and I am your Constellations Leader (CL). I'm a Senior at the college, majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in American History and Anthropology--the previous should demonstrate that I am as equally indecisive as I am ambitious. When I'm not burning my way through multiple boxes of ballpoint pens, I can be found acting in plays on both sides of Broadway, contemplating the layout of the two literary magazines I edit, or sampling all the french fries in the known Morningside Heights universe. I'm a Brooklyn girl who spends far too much time crafting and will always choose Britney over Christina. In case you want to know a little bit more about me (including how good I look in oversized headphones) or meet my fellow amazing CLs, peep the Constellations website.

Now, enough about me, and more about the Constellations program and how excited I am to meet you and have this year start: as a CL, I am here to help you navigate the various communities that exist within Barnard and help you engage with each other, forming bonds and creating memories that will hopefully last a lifetime (cheesy I know..but true!) It's my hope that together we will explore all that Barnard, Columbia U, New York & its boroughs have to offer. Through Constellations, you will make your mark on the school and the city and become the bold, beautiful, Barnard women I know you all are.

Excited yet? I am sure you are--and that excitement is well-deserved. I am in the process of planning various events that will take place over the course of the year, everything from roundtable discussions with special (read: AWESOME) guests to Brooklyn galavants. These programs will, firstly, introduce you all to each other, and take you out of your dorm rooms and away from your studying and show you how ~*~rAd~*~ being a Barnard lady really, truly is. In order to whet your appetite and let me finally see all your pretty faces, we are going to get together for the Barnard Loves NY event during orientation. On August 29th, Barnard Loves NY will see us and the other constellations visiting some of NY's most famed attractions. Bring your cameras or Iphones or smartphones or whatever you kids are using these days on the 29th, because this event is something you are going to want to have recorded. In order to make the process of getting to our destination a little easier, I'll ask that you all get a Metrocard ahead of time if you can--they are available for purchase in the subway station on the corner of 116th and $4.50 would be enough for the trip. Also, be sure to wear your Constellations t-shirt when we meet (you'll receive it as soon as you arrive on campus)--the Telescopium tee is the hottest item on the market.

As a T.scope girl, you should join our facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/253707781315203/) and check out our blog (OH WAIT YOU ALREADY DID--THAT'S HOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT THIS RIGHT NOW!! YOU DA BEST!!)--these are places where I will be posting information on all upcoming Telescopium events, tips for your first-year in college, interesting articles and links, and various youtube videos of kittens. The FB group is also a great place to keep in constant contact with me and your fellow Telescopium ladies, letting me know about your interests, your suggestions, and responding to various questions I may have. First order of business--OUR NICKNAME/ MASCOT! Being that Constellations is an inaugural program, we have a lot of opportunities to shape it into what it will become for future Barnard students. Pop over to the facebook group and let me know how you think Telescopium should be represented. **Puns are enthusiastically preferred**

Alright ladies, I am well aware that this is a long and slightly rambly e-mail...in summation, check out the Telescopium blog regularly, and be at the Barnard Loves NY event on August 29th with your t-shirt on and Metrocard in hand--if you ain't there, you're [ ].

I can't wait to meet you all, my shining stars. I hope your summer ends with a bang!

You are sitting in Butler/your bedroom/the second floor lounge/Central Park/Hungarian/an undisclosed location. You are dOin wErq. And then, perhaps, you are "doing work". Finally, you begin to do work. You pick up one class's reading assignment. You highlight. You digest. You draw doodles in the margins. You complete paragraph after paragraph aft--wait, what? Does that say what you really think that says? You reread that last sentence or two. Yes, it does indeed say what you thought it did. You laugh/cry/swoon/sing/philosophize/ponder/change your life goals. You look around you, eagerly--this little nugget of knowledge must be shared! But, alas!--no one is around you. You tell yourself that you will remember to share this with your roommate/BFF/Mom/Dad/significant other/CL but, as one so often does in this world of further readings, Youtube videos of singing babies, and Netflix, you forget. The priceless nugget disappears once more into literary anonymity.

But I say, "no more"! "Taken Out of Context" is a space in which we share those rare gems of writing that we find within the pages of assigned readings--be they hilarious, strange, beautiful, inspiring or in any other way memorable and worth sharing. Place your contenders in the comments and I will continue to add your quotations to the post. At the end of the week, one lady's entrant will be chosen for the best nugget of the week. Each week, a new post, some new quotes, and a new winning nugget.Let the reading & sharing begin!-----------------------------------------

1. "Scurvy knave! I am none of his flirt-gills; I am none of his skains-mates."

One of the best things about Columbia/Barnard is the sheer abundance of campus events that occur every week. One of my biggest regrets is not having fully taken advantage of all the marvelous things that occur ON THE DAILY at this university. Being the loving & protective CL I am, I want to save you this mistake. ERGO, every Sunday night I will post the dates, times, & locations of that week's upcoming events that I think sound KEWL, INTERESTIN, PROVOCATIVE, HIP & HAPPENIN' in a series I will call (…for now) "SEE THIS; HEAR THIS; BE HERE". I'll also post links to all the events (when possible) so you can read more about them and get tickets (when necessary). In the comments, lemme know which events strike a cord with you--if enough people show interest, we can mayhaps all attend together…because you're cool, other Tele ladies are cool, and cool ladies should go to cool things together.

ALSO, if there is any event that I have missed that you want to publicize (be it a lecture, a gallery, a club gathering or what have you) feel free to post it in the comments as well and I can put it up on the blog for all to see.

"Ever thought about moving to California? Love Jamba Juice, In-N-Out, CPK, and amazing weather? Interested in finding out about media, entertainment, PR, or tech internships (just to name a few) on the West Coast?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, come meet the board of West Coast Connection! We’ll speak briefly about who we are, the types of events we hold, and opportunities to get involved. Snacks will be provided! Yes, there will be FREE FOOD!!!"

Welcome to Barnard College!!!!!!!! (If I could add a thousand more exclamation points, I would--unfortunately, I think e-mail has certain limitations.) My name is Colette and I am your Constellations Leader (CL). I'm a Senior at the college, majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in American History and Anthropology--the previous should demonstrate that I am as equally indecisive as I am ambitious. When I'm not burning my way through multiple boxes of ballpoint pens, I can be found acting in plays on both sides of Broadway, contemplating the layout of the two literary magazines I edit, or sampling all the french fries in the known Morningside Heights universe. I'm a Brooklyn girl who spends far too much time crafting and will always choose Britney over Christina. In case you want to know a little bit more about me (including how good I look in oversized headphones) or meet my fellow amazing CLs, peep the Constellations website.

Now, enough about me, and more about the Constellations program and how excited I am to meet you and have this year start: as a CL, I am here to help you navigate the various communities that exist within Barnard and help you engage with each other, forming bonds and creating memories that will hopefully last a lifetime (cheesy I know..but true!) It's my hope that together we will explore all that Barnard, Columbia U, New York & its boroughs have to offer. Through Constellations, you will make your mark on the school and the city and become the bold, beautiful, Barnard women I know you all are.

Excited yet? I am sure you are--and that excitement is well-deserved. I am in the process of planning various events that will take place over the course of the year, everything from roundtable discussions with special (read: AWESOME) guests to Brooklyn galavants. These programs will, firstly, introduce you all to each other, and take you out of your dorm rooms and away from your studying and show you how ~*~rAd~*~ being a Barnard lady really, truly is. In order to whet your appetite and let me finally see all your pretty faces, we are going to get together for the Barnard Loves NY event during orientation. On August 29th, Barnard Loves NY will see us and the other constellations visiting some of NY's most famed attractions. Bring your cameras or Iphones or smartphones or whatever you kids are using these days on the 29th, because this event is something you are going to want to have recorded. In order to make the process of getting to our destination a little easier, I'll ask that you all get a Metrocard ahead of time if you can--they are available for purchase in the subway station on the corner of 116th and $4.50 would be enough for the trip. Also, be sure to wear your Constellations t-shirt when we meet (you'll receive it as soon as you arrive on campus)--the Telescopium tee is the hottest item on the market.

As a T.scope girl, you should join our facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/253707781315203/) and check out our blog (OH WAIT YOU ALREADY DID--THAT'S HOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT THIS RIGHT NOW!! YOU DA BEST!!)--these are places where I will be posting information on all upcoming Telescopium events, tips for your first-year in college, interesting articles and links, and various youtube videos of kittens. The FB group is also a great place to keep in constant contact with me and your fellow Telescopium ladies, letting me know about your interests, your suggestions, and responding to various questions I may have. First order of business--OUR NICKNAME/ MASCOT! Being that Constellations is an inaugural program, we have a lot of opportunities to shape it into what it will become for future Barnard students. Pop over to the facebook group and let me know how you think Telescopium should be represented. **Puns are enthusiastically preferred**

Alright ladies, I am well aware that this is a long and slightly rambly e-mail...in summation, check out the Telescopium blog regularly, and be at the Barnard Loves NY event on August 29th with your t-shirt on and Metrocard in hand--if you ain't there, you're [ ].

I can't wait to meet you all, my shining stars. I hope your summer ends with a bang!

Colette McIntyre, Class of 2012, was a small town girl living in a lonely world until she took a Long Island Railroad train going to NYC. Now, Colette hosts a weekly funk show at Columbia's radio station until 5 in the morning, performs improv with the all-female "Control Top", and edits two literary magazines with sass and flair. She majors in English and minors in History yet still wishes that “Getting Down with the Get Down” was a legitimate major. When not acting in scenes (or making them) on campus, Colette can be found either continuing her search for the best curry in New York or dancing with her eyes closed in the front rows of a concert. She loves Faulkner, trivia games, her adopted borough of Brooklyn, poetry readings and meandering.